Chōmei said with an amused laugh amid its confusion, "Are you planning to die right in front of me?"
Sarada did not answer. She did not need to. Simply sitting there quietly was enough to explain everything.
She was already close to death. The flames outside burned everything, including Sarada's body.
She really was dying in front of the Seven-Tails!
Chōmei: 6
Although I can continue living, why do I suddenly feel so sad?
It watched Sarada die, as though watching a mirage scatter in the wind. Everything felt like an unreal illusion. To Chōmei, this scene truly seemed like a play.
It seemed to understand why Gyūki had chosen to stay with Killer B, and why someone as proud as Kurama had willingly remained inside Naruto.
At that moment, it too had the absurd thought of staying inside this human and helping her take revenge!
"Hey, human, I still don't know your name!" Chōmei snorted at Sarada.
Sarada raised her head indifferently and stared at the Seven-Tails, as if asking whether it was joking.
Did it matter? Of course it mattered!
"Hey, human, you're one of the few beings in my long life who can restrain me. Now that you're about to die, at least let me know who's bold enough to do that, will you?"
"Uchiha Sarada," she said softly.
Chōmei froze inwardly. That name sounded somewhat familiar. "So you really are one of those evil Uchiha. But where did another monster like you come from, when your clan was already wiped out?"
After a long moment of reflection, Chōmei said, "After you die, I'll help you get revenge. At least then you won't die without knowing why.
"After all, you're my... companion now, right?"
"..."
Chōmei frowned slightly. The countdown to death seemed so long. It meant a flower was about to wither, perhaps to become spring mud.
Suddenly, Sarada asked in confusion, "Why does everyone curse the Uchiha? What exactly did my clan do?"
Chōmei, if you ask that, I'll have to start a long speech. Assuming you live long enough to hear it.
Considering Sarada's condition, Chōmei only chose the most recent conflict caused by an Uchiha.
"Take that Sasuke from the Hidden Leaf Village. He may have turned over a new leaf now, but before that, the brat restrained all nine Tailed Beasts in one go, trying to create a controllable world!"
Sarada: ?!
"You're saying my father used to be an enemy who endangered the Shinobi World?"
Sarada was stunned, and so was Chōmei.
"Wait, you said Sasuke Uchiha? He's your father?"
Sarada nodded blankly. There was no point in talking about this now anyway.
"?!!!" Chōmei was shocked. "Why the hell didn't you say so earlier?"
"..."
Seeing Sarada like this, Chōmei no longer held onto any hope of escaping. If she really was Sasuke's child, then if he found out it had stood by and watched her die, he would probably beat it to death on the spot!
"Damn it, you sneaky Uchiha brat, don't die! You still have revenge to take!!"
Chōmei nearly roared at Sarada. At the same time, its Chakra poured out desperately, breaking through the barrier of the seal as it tried to protect Sarada's body.
Maybe... it was not too late?
Sarada was baffled. "Don't you hate the Uchiha? Don't you want freedom? Why are you trying to save me now?"
"..."
Chōmei was on the verge of breaking down. "Please don't say it like that, young lady. It's not like I could help while I was sealed. Stop giving up already. Isn't living a good thing?"
Powerful Chakra surged through the bars, wrapping around Sarada's soul like an ocean and stabilizing her condition.
Unfortunately, her body had been burned too severely. Most of it had already been carbonized. Strangely enough, Sarada still had not died.
"Your body is already ruined. How are you still not dead?" Chōmei was completely confused.
Sarada was stunned as well. That was right—she could no longer feel her body. By all logic, her soul should have gone to the underworld long ago. Why was she still sitting here unharmed?
Chōmei: As expected of the Uchiha clan. Completely outrageous!
"My Mangekyō's eye technique used to be 'Immortality.' Maybe that effect was preserved," Sarada said after thinking for a long time, offering the most plausible explanation.
"That's nonsense. How can anyone be immortal?" Chōmei could not help complaining. "Your damn eyes are gone. How could an eye technique still be residing in you?"
The mental space fell silent for a while. Sarada remained seated. Now that she knew she could live a little longer, she still did not believe a miracle would happen.
"Could it be some life-saving ability your companion left you?" Chōmei naturally had not forgotten the human who had incapacitated it with a single move.
At the same time, it was puzzled as to why Sasuke's child had become involved with another Uchiha orphan.
"He only... treated me as a bargaining chip for negotiations," Sarada sighed. "He kidnapped me only to force my father and the Hokage to submit."
"I see!" Chōmei immediately understood everything.
It coughed awkwardly. Not only had it misunderstood Sarada's identity, it had also insulted her earlier and stood by while she died...
A great amount of Chakra was absorbed by Sarada. It was as if she were swimming through an ocean of Chakra, with Chakra entering every pore of her body.
"You seem to be... recovering? But why?" Chōmei wondered. Was its Chakra really that incredible?
Was it really better than Kurama's Mystical Palm Technique Plus, Chakra that could at most heal wounds?
After all, Naruto's right arm was still a prosthetic...
Once Sarada recovered to a certain extent, an eerie red light lit up in her left eye. The pattern of the Mangekyō appeared clearly.
Chōmei: "Hey, hey, this is beyond healing, isn't it? This is practically bringing someone back from the dead!"
—Other Shore!
Sarada's eye technique activated once again. Her body, which had already turned to blackened charcoal outside, visibly began to repair itself.
Chōmei: This is ridiculous!
Unfortunately, while the Mangekyō in her left eye could recover, the Single Tomoe in her right eye had vanished without a trace.
Although her eye had returned to an ordinary black pupil, the Sharingan could no longer be activated.
Once something was lost, she had to find a way to get it back. Sarada thought to herself.
Honestly, she had not expected the eye power of "Other Shore" to be so absurd. Not only could it remain within her body and continue maintaining the effect of "Immortality," it could even force regeneration!
Chōmei: So everything I said and did before was for nothing, huh?
You tricked me!!!
Seemingly sensing Chōmei's dissatisfaction, Sarada comforted it, "You said we count as friends. Now I need your strength, good friend!"
"..." Looking into Sarada's sincere eyes, Chōmei had nothing left to say. Had it been set up, or deceived?
Even the seal was starting to loosen now!
Chōmei sensed the weakening of the sealing technique and froze. Though it vaguely knew that reconciling with a Jinchuriki would allow it to release more power, was this not going too smoothly?
Forget it. Chōmei chose to accept its fate.
"Should we report everything here to Naruto? Perhaps things will be easier to resolve once they arrive."
Chōmei asked.
Sarada hesitated only briefly before responding, "No need. I think... I may still need him in the future to grow stronger more quickly."
"The human who sealed me and abducted you?"
"Mm."
In reality, Sarada opened her eyes. Her Mangekyō and black pupil surveyed the scene. The flames had not yet completely died out, and thick black smoke rose into the sky.
They had not gone far. Or perhaps Sarada had not spent much time in the mental space.
It was just that... all her clothes had burned away. Though she had not died... she had no choice but to go "buy" a new set of clothes first.
As for the other Mangekyō that had been taken and was now in the enemy's hands, Sarada sensed it only for an instant before the feeling vanished without a trace.
Following that direction, Sarada ran swiftly toward the outskirts of the village. The enemy had clearly fled far from the scene to another town or village, which would undoubtedly cause Sarada a great deal of trouble.
Perhaps the eye had already been sold.
Before you continue